NCAA FB

Top offenses clash when Ball St visits N Illinois

DE KALB, Ill. (AP)

Two of the nation's most productive offenses clash as No. 20
Northern Illinois seeks to extend the nation's longest current home
winning streak Wednesday night.

The Huskies (9-0, 5-0 Mid-American West) go for their 25th
straight home win against Ball State (9-1, 6-0) at 7 p.m. (CT) at
Huskie Stadium.

''It's going to be a big challenge for us,'' said Northern
Illinois coach Rod Carey. ''They're the best team I've seen on film
right now going into a game and how they execute their game plan
overall. . They have a taste for winning and confidence is an
amazing thing.''

The winner takes over the MAC West lead and be front-runner for
a berth in the Dec. 6 conference championship game. The Cardinals
have won seven straight since a 34-27 loss at North Texas on Sept.
14.

Quarterback Keith Wenning ranks fourth nationally with 3,164
yards passing and Willie Snead is third in receiving with 74
catches for 1,175 yards. His 12 touchdown receptions are tied for
third in the country.

Last season against the Huskies, Wenning threw a school record
71 passes and completed 42 in a 35-23 loss.

''Offensively they're very aggressive,'' Northern Illinois
defensive lineman Ken Bishop said. ''We know they like to throw the
ball. They come out and attack expeditiously, so we're just going
to have to make sure we're prepared.''

The Huskies' pass defense is 107th in the nation. But Northern
Illinois compensates with a top 10 offense that has generated 160
points in its last three games, including a season-high 63 points
on Nov. 2 at Massachusetts.

It's all led by quarterback Jordan Lynch, who is 164-of-258 for
1,871 yards and 19 touchdowns and five interceptions this
season.

''He's probably underrated as a passer,'' Ball State coach Pete
Lembo said. ''You get so geared up to stop the run game - the
quarterback run game and all the misdirection - that they have some
good opportunities to throw it on the perimeter. Their staff is
very wise in terms of taking advantage of what the defense is
giving them.''

Ball State beat Central Michigan 44-24 last Wednesday while the
Huskies have had 10 days to prepare since a 63-19 blowout win over
Massachusetts on Nov. 2.

The Cardinals lead the overall series 20-18-2 and hope to break
a four-game series losing streak.

''It's neat for our program to be in this position,'' Lembo
said. ''Before the 2011 season, we hoped to build a program that
would be able to compete. . I'm proud of how our kids have bought
in and how hard they've worked.''

Here are five things to know about Wednesday's game:

BEST START: A 10th victory would be the Huskies' best start
since joining the major college ranks in 1969 and match the
school's all-time 10-0 mark set by its 1963 NCAA College Division
champions.

STILL PERFECT: The Huskies are among six teams around the nation
still unbeaten. In addition to its long home winning streak,
Northern Illinois also has the nation's longest active road run
(14) and longest current conference winning streak (22).

TOPS IN FBS: Ball State is the only FBS team to have a
quarterback with at least 25 touchdown passes, a receiver with at
least 12 touchdown receptions and a running back with at least 12
rushing touchdowns (Jahwan Edwards).

TROPHY GAME: Wednesday's winner will also claim the Bronze
Stalk, a traveling trophy being awarded for the sixth year. The
teams first played for the trophy in 2008 and Northern Illinois has
won four of five meetings.

PATRIOTS' GAME: Northern Illinois players will wear special
patriotic jerseys as part of Wednesday's Heroes Game, which will
salute active duty military, veterans and police, firefighters and
first responders. Uniforms will be auctioned off postgame with
proceeds benefiting Active Heroes, an organization which offers
programs to combat post-traumatic stress disorders.

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